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St. Juan Diego Gifts and Collectables

In December of 1531, Juan Diego, an Aztec Indian living outside of Mexico City encountered an apparition of the Virgin Mary. She instructed him to go to the archbishop and have a church built in her honor on that spot. Juan Diego did as instructed, but the archbishop did not believe him. The Virgin appeared to him three more times insisting on the same and eventually giving him proof of her existence. On Her fourth visit to Juan Diego, She told him that She had healed his dying uncle (to whom she also appeared). She also instructed him to gather flowers on the top of Tepeyak Hill. He did so, and found Castilian roses which did not grow in that area (especially not in December). Juan Diego gathered them in his cloak and took them to the bishop. Upon opening his cloak, an image of Mary was emblazoned on the fabric. A shrine, known as Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, was built on that spot, and Juan Diego's cloak is housed in it.